Core-skin fiber comprising propylene ethylene random copolymer

ABSTRACT

A skin-core fiber havinga skin of a propylene ethylene copolymer having:i) xylene soluble fraction from 14 wt % to 27 wt %;ii) intrinsic viscosity of the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. from 1.0 to 2.4 dl/g;iii) melt flow rate, MFR, from 12 g/10 min to 60 g/10 min;iv) an ethylene derived units content from 5.0 wt % to 12.0 wt %;v) the ethylene derived units content of the fraction insoluble in xylene from 2.5 wt % to 6.0 wt %;vi) the ethylene derived units content of the fraction soluble in xylene ranging from 15.2. wt % to 30.2 wt %;vii) C13 NMR sequences PEP on the fraction insoluble in xylene from 3.5 mol % to 5.5 mol %; andviii) C13 NMR sequences PEP on the fraction soluble in xylene from 11.0 mol % to 14.2 mol %; anda core of a polyethylene having a density between 0.940 g/cm3 to 0.975 g/cm3.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

In general, the present disclosure relates to the field of chemistry. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to polymer chemistry. In particular, the present disclosure relates to fibers made from or containing a propylene ethylene random copolymer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, nonwoven webs or fabrics are used in products such as workwear, workwear materials, garments, disposable diapers, and other personal hygiene products, including pre-moistened wipes. Disposable absorbent garments include diapers, incontinence briefs, training pants, and feminine hygiene products. In some instances, nonwoven webs are selected for strength, softness, and abrasion resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a skin-core fiber made from or containing

-   -   a skin made from or containing a propylene ethylene copolymer         having:         -   i) a xylene soluble fraction at 25° C. ranging from 14 wt %             to 27 wt %, based upon the total weight of the propylene             ethylene copolymer;         -   ii) an intrinsic viscosity of the fraction soluble in xylene             at 25° C. ranging from 1.0 to 2.4 dl/g;         -   iii) a melt flow rate, MFR, measured according to ISO 1133             at 230° C. with a load of 2.16 kg, ranging from 12 g/10 min             to 60 g/10 min;         -   iv) an ethylene derived units content ranging from 5.0 wt %             to 12.0 wt %, based upon the total weight of the propylene             ethylene copolymer;         -   v) the ethylene derived units content of the fraction             insoluble in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 2.5 wt % to 6.0             wt %;         -   vi) the ethylene derived units content of the fraction             soluble in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 15.2. wt % to 30.2             wt %         -   vii) C¹³ NMR sequences PEP measured on the fraction             insoluble in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 3.5 mol % to 5.5             mol %; and         -   viii) C¹³ NMR sequences PEP measured on the fraction soluble             in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 11.0 mol % to 14.2 mol %;             and     -   a core made from or containing a homopolymer or copolymer of         ethylene having a density between 0.940 g/cm³ to 0.975 g/cm³.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a skin-core fiber made from or containing

-   -   a skin made from or containing a propylene ethylene copolymer         having:         -   i) a xylene soluble fraction at 25° C. ranging from 14 wt %             to 27 wt %; alternatively from 17 wt % to 25 wt %;             alternatively from 18 wt % to 22 wt %, based upon the total             weight of the propylene ethylene copolymer;         -   ii) an intrinsic viscosity of the fraction soluble in xylene             at 25° C. ranging from 1.0 to 2.4 dl/g; alternatively from             1.5 to 2.2 dl/g; alternatively from 1.7 to 2.1 dl/g;         -   iii) a melt flow rate, MFR, measured according to ISO 1133             at 230° C. with a load of 2.16 kg, ranging from 12.0 g/10             min to 60.0 g/10 min; alternatively from 15.0 g/10 min to             50.0 g/10 min; alternatively from 18.6 g/10 min to 30.0 g/10             min;         -   iv) an ethylene derived units content ranging from 5.0 wt %             to 12.0 wt %, alternatively from 6.2 wt % to 10.3 wt %,             based upon the total weight of the propylene ethylene             copolymer         -   v) the ethylene derived units content of the fraction             insoluble in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 2.5 wt % to 6.0             wt %; alternatively ranging from 3.2 wt % to 5.2 wt %;             alternatively ranging from 3.5 wt % to 5.0 wt %;         -   vi) the ethylene derived units content of the fraction             soluble in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 15.2. wt % to 30.2             wt %; alternatively ranging from 17.2 wt % to 24.8 wt %;             alternatively ranging from 18.2 wt % to 22.8 wt %;         -   vii) C¹³ NMR sequences PEP measured on the fraction             insoluble in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 3.5 mol % to 5.5             mol %; alternatively ranging from 3.8 mol % to 5.2 mol %;             alternatively ranging from 3.9 mol % to 4.8 mol %; and         -   viii) C¹³ NMR sequences PEP measured on the fraction soluble             in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 11.0 mol % to 14.2 mol %;             alternatively ranging from 11.5 mol % to 13.8 mol %;             alternatively ranging from 12.3 mol % to 13.5 mol %; and     -   a core made from or containing a homopolymer or copolymer of         ethylene having a density between 0.940 g/cm³ to 0.975 g/cm³;         alternatively between 0.955 g/cm³ and 0.970 g/cm³; alternatively         between 0.958 g/cm³ and 0.965 g/cm³.

As used herein, the term “copolymer” refers to polymers containing two kinds of comonomers. In some embodiments, the comonomers are propylene and ethylene.

In some embodiments and in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the C¹³ NMR sequences PEE measured on the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. range from 7.2 mol % to 12.0 mol %; alternatively from 8.3 mol % to 11.2 mol %.

In some embodiments and in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the C¹³ NMR sequences EEE measured on the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. are lower than 6.5 mol % alternatively in a range from 5.9 mol % to 2.0 mol %.

In some embodiments and in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the product of reactivity ratio r1r2 of the fraction insoluble in xylene at 25° C. measured with C¹³ NMR is between 2.4 and 4.6; alternatively between 2.9 and 4.1; alternatively between 3.1 and 3.8.

Propylene ethylene copolymer is obtained with a process being carried out in a reactor having two interconnected polymerization zones, a riser and a downcomer, wherein the growing polymer particles:

-   -   (a) flow through the first polymerization zone, the riser, under         fast fluidization conditions in the presence of propylene and of         ethylene;     -   (b) leave the riser and enter the second polymerization zone,         the downcomer, through which the growing polymer particles flow         downward in a densified form in the presence of propylene and         ethylene, wherein the concentration of ethylene in the downcomer         is higher than in the riser; and     -   (c) leave the downcomer and are reintroduced into the riser,         thereby establishing a circulation of polymer between the riser         and the downcomer.

In the first polymerization zone (riser), fast fluidization conditions are established by feeding a gas mixture made from or containing one or more alpha-olefins at a velocity higher than the transport velocity of the polymer particles. In some embodiments, the velocity of the gas mixture is between 0.5 and 15 m/s, alternatively between 0.8 and 5 m/s. As used herein, the terms “transport velocity” and “fast fluidization conditions” are as defined in “D. Geldart, Gas Fluidisation Technology, page 155 et seq., J. Wiley & Sons Ltd., 1986”.

In the second polymerization zone (downcomer), the polymer particles flow under the action of gravity in a densified form, thereby achieving the high values of density of the solid (mass of polymer per volume of reactor) and approaching the bulk density of the polymer. As used herein, the term “densified form” of the polymer indicates that the ratio between the mass of polymer particles and the reactor volume is higher than 80% of the “poured bulk density” of the polymer. In the downcomer, the polymer flows downward in a plug flow and small quantities of gas are entrained with the polymer particles.

In some embodiments, the two interconnected polymerization zones are operated such that the gas mixture coming from the riser is totally or partially prevented from entering the downcomer by introducing into the upper part of the downcomer a liquid or gas stream, denominated “barrier stream”, having a composition different from the gaseous mixture present in the riser. In some embodiments, one or more feeding lines for the barrier stream are placed in the downcomer close to the upper limit of the volume occupied by the polymer particles flowing downward in a densified form.

In some embodiments, this liquid/gas mixture fed into the upper part of the downcomer partially replaces the gas mixture entrained with the polymer particles entering the downcomer. The partial evaporation of the liquid in the barrier stream generates in the upper part of the downcomer a flow of gas, which moves counter-currently to the flow of descending polymer, thereby acting as a barrier to the gas mixture coming from the riser and entrained among the polymer particles. In some embodiments, the liquid/gas barrier fed to the upper part of the downcomer is sprinkled over the surface of the polymer particles. In some embodiments, the evaporation of the liquid provides the upward flow of gas.

In some embodiments, the feed of the barrier stream causes a difference in the concentrations of monomers or hydrogen (molecular weight regulator) inside the riser and the downcomer, thereby producing a bimodal polymer.

In some embodiments, the gas-phase polymerization process involves a reaction mixture made from or containing the gaseous monomers, inert polymerization diluents and chain transfer agents to regulate the molecular weight of the polymeric chains. In some embodiments, hydrogen is used to regulate the molecular weight. In some embodiments, the polymerization diluents are selected from C₂-C₈ alkanes, alternatively from the group consisting of propane, isobutane, isopentane and hexane. In some embodiments, propane is used as the polymerization diluent in the gas-phase polymerization.

In some embodiments, the barrier steam is made from or containing:

-   -   i. from 10 to 100% by mol of propylene, based upon the total         moles in the barrier stream;     -   ii. from 0 to 80% by mol of ethylene, based upon the total moles         in the barrier stream;     -   iii. from 0 to 30% by mol of propane, based upon the total moles         in the barrier stream;     -   iv. from 0 to 5% by mol of hydrogen, based upon the total moles         in the barrier stream.

In some embodiments, the composition of the barrier stream is obtained from the condensation of a part of the fresh monomers and propane, wherein the condensed part is fed to the upper part of the downcomer in a liquid form. In some embodiments, the composition of the barrier stream is derived from condensation or distillation of part of a gaseous stream continuously recycled to the reactor having two interconnected polymerization zones.

In some embodiments, additional liquid or gas is fed along the downcomer at a point below the barrier stream.

In some embodiments, the recycle gas stream is withdrawn from a gas/solid separator placed downstream the riser, cooled by passage through an external heat exchanger and then recycled to the bottom of the riser. In some embodiments, the recycle gas stream is made from or containing the gaseous monomers, the inert polymerization components, and chain transfer agents. In some embodiments, the inert polymerization components include propane. In some embodiments, the chain transfer agents include hydrogen. In some embodiments, the composition of the barrier stream deriving from condensation or distillation of the gas recycle stream is adjusted by feeding liquid make-up monomers and propane before the gas recycle stream's introduction into the upper part of downcomer.

In some embodiments and in both riser and downcomer, the temperature is between 60° C. and 120° C., while the pressure ranges from 5 to 40 bar.

In some embodiments, the process for preparing the propylene ethylene copolymer is carried out in presence of a highly stereospecific heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalyst. In some embodiments, the Ziegler-Natta catalysts are made from or containing a solid catalyst component made from or containing at least one titanium compound having at least one titanium-halogen bond and at least an electron-donor compound (internal donor), both supported on magnesium chloride. In some embodiments, the Ziegler-Natta catalysts systems are further made from or containing an organo-aluminum compound as a co-catalyst and optionally an external electron-donor compound.

In some embodiments, the catalysts systems are as described in the European Patent Nos. EP45977, EP361494, EP728769, and EP 1272533 and Patent Cooperation Treaty Publication No. W000163261.

In some embodiments, the organo-aluminum compound is an alkyl-Al selected from the trialkyl aluminum compounds. In some embodiments, the trialkyl aluminum compound is selected from the group consisting of triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-butylaluminum, tri-n-hexylaluminum, and tri-n-octylaluminum. In some embodiments, the trialkylaluminum is mixed with alkylaluminum halides, alkylaluminum hydrides or alkylaluminum sesquichlorides such as AlEt₂Cl and Al₂Et₃Cl₃.

In some embodiments, the external electron-donor compounds are selected from the group consisting of silicon compounds, ethers, esters, amines, heterocyclic compounds, ketones and 1,3-diethers. In some embodiments, the ester is ethyl 4-ethoxybenzoate. In some embodiments, the external electron-donor compound is 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine. In some embodiments, the external donor compounds are silicon compounds of formula R_(a) ⁵R_(b) ⁶Si(OR⁷)_(c) where a and b are integer from 0 to 2, c is an integer from 1 to 3 and the sum (a+b+c) is 4; R⁵, R⁶, and R⁷, are alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl radicals with 1-18 carbon atoms optionally containing heteroatoms. In some embodiments, the silicon compounds are selected from the group consisting of methylcyclohexyldimethoxysilane, diphenyldimethoxysilane, methyl-t-butyldimethoxysilane, dicyclopentyldimethoxysilane, 2-ethylpiperidinyl-2-t-butyldimethoxysilane and 1,1,1, trifluoropropyl-2-ethylpiperidinyl-dimethoxysilane and 1,1,1, trifluoropropyl-methyldimethoxysilane. In some embodiments, the external electron donor compound is used in an amount to give a molar ratio between the organo-aluminum compound and the electron donor compound of from 0.1 to 500; alternatively from 1 to 100; alternatively from 2 to 50.

In some embodiments, the propylene ethylene copolymer compositions are further made from or containing additives and/or peroxides, thereby achieving a certain Melt Flow Rate.

In some embodiments, the additives are selected from the group consisting of pigments, opacifiers, fillers, stabilizers, flame retardants, antacids and whiteners.

As used herein, the phrase “fibers or filaments having a skin-core structure” refers to fibers or filaments having an axially extending interface and made from or containing at least two components, that is, at least an inner core and at least an outer skin, wherein the at least two components are made from or containing different polymeric materials and are joined along the axially extending interface. In some embodiments and in skin-core fibers or filaments, the skin thickness is uniform or is not uniform around the circumference of the fiber or filament cross-section.

In some embodiments, fibers or filaments having skin-core structure are produced using melt-spin equipment having eccentric or concentric annular dies.

In some embodiments, the skin-core fibers or filaments are made from or containing 50-80% by weight, alternatively 55-75% by weight, of polymeric material forming the core-layer and 20-50% by weight, alternatively 25-45% by weight, of polymer material forming the outer skin-layer, with respect to the total weight of the fibers or filaments.

In some embodiments, the fibers have a diameter of 10 to 50 micrometers.

In some embodiments, the fibers are spread to form directly a fiber web and calendered, thereby obtaining a non-woven fabric.

In some embodiments and in a spunbonding process, the polymer is heated in an extruder to the melting point of the polyolefin composition and then the molten polyolefin composition is pumped under pressure through a spinneret containing a number of orifices of certain diameter, thereby producing filaments of the molten polymer composition and without subjecting the filaments to a subsequent drawing.

In some embodiments, the equipment includes an extruder with a die on the extruder's spinning head, a cooling tower, and an air suction gathering device that uses Venturi tubes.

In some embodiments, the filaments are gathered over a conveyor belt, where the filaments are distributed and thereby forming a web.

In some embodiments, the spunbond machinery is used under the following process conditions:

-   -   the output per hole ranges from 0.3-0.8 g/min, alternatively         from 0.4-0.6 g/min;     -   the molten polymer filaments fed from the face of the spinneret         are cooled by air flow and solidified as a result of cooling;         and     -   the spinning temperature is between 2000 and 300° C.

The filaments are brought by the conveyor belt to a thermal bonding step, which is carried out by calendering through a couple of heated rolls.

In some embodiments, the thermal bonding temperatures range from 120° C. to 170° C.

In some embodiments, the fabric is made from or containing monolayer or multilayer non-woven fabrics.

In some embodiments, the non-woven fabric is multilayered and at least one layer is made from or containing fibers formed from the propylene ethylene copolymer. In some embodiments, the other layer is obtained by spinning processes other than spunbond. In some embodiments, the other layer is made from or containing other types of polymers.

In some embodiments, the tenacity in the transverse direction direction (TD) of the non-woven fabric ranges from 12.0 to 24.0 N, alternatively from 12.5 to 20 N.

In some embodiments, haptics range from 12 to 18.

The following examples are given to illustrate, not to limit, the present disclosure:

EXAMPLES

Xylene-Soluble (XS) Fraction at 25° C.

Xylene Solubles at 25° C. was determined according to ISO 16 152; with solution volume of 250 ml, precipitation at 25° C. for 20 minutes, including 10 minutes with the solution in agitation (magnetic stirrer), and drying at 70° C.

DSC Method for Melting Point

Melting point was measured according to ISO 11357-3, at scanning rate of 20 C/min both in cooling and heating, on a sample of weight between 5 and 7 mg., under inert N2 flow. The instrument was calibrated with indium.

Glass Transition Temperature Via DMTA (Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis)

Molded specimens of 76 mm by 13 mm by 1 mm were fixed to a DMTA machine for tensile stress. The frequency of the tension and relies of the sample were fixed at 1 Hz. The DMTA translates the elastic response of the specimen starting from −100° C. to 130° C. The elastic response was plotted versus temperature. The elastic modulus for a viscoelastic material is defined as E=E′+iE″. The DMTA split the two components E′ and E″ by resonance, plotted E′ vs temperature, and plotted E′/E″=tan (δ) vs temperature. The glass transition temperature Tg was assumed to be the temperature at the maximum of the curve E′/E″=tan (δ) vs temperature.

Density

The density of samples was measured according to ISO 1183-1:2012 at 23° C. (ISO 1183-1 method A “Methods for determining the density of non-cellular plastics Part 1: Immersion method, liquid pyknometer method and titration method”; Method A: Immersion method, for solid plastics (except for powders) in void-free form). Test specimens were taken from compression molded plaques conditioned for 10 days before carrying out the density measure.

Melt Flow Rate (MFR)

Measured according to ISO 1133 at 230° C. with a load of 2.16 kg, unless otherwise specified.

Intrinsic Viscosity (IV)

The sample was dissolved in tetrahydronaphthalene at 135° C. and then poured into a capillary viscometer. The viscometer tube (Ubbelohde type) was surrounded by a cylindrical glass jacket, which permitted temperature control with a circulating thermostatic liquid. The downward passage of the meniscus was timed by a photoelectric device.

The passage of the meniscus in front of the upper lamp started the counter, which had a quartz crystal oscillator. The counter stopped as the meniscus passed the lower lamp, and the efflux time was registered. The efflux time was converted into a value of intrinsic viscosity through Huggins' equation (Huggins, M. L., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1942, 64, 2716) based upon the flow time of the solvent at the same experimental conditions (same viscometer and same temperature). A single polymer solution was used to determine [η].

Ethylene Content in the Copolymers

¹³C NMR spectra were acquired on a Bruker AV-600 spectrometer equipped with cryoprobe, operating at 160.91 MHz in the Fourier transform mode at 120° C.

The peak of the Sββ carbon (nomenclature according to “Monomer Sequence Distribution in Ethylene-Propylene Rubber Measured by ¹³C NMR. 3. Use of Reaction Probability Mode” C. J. Carman, R. A. Harrington and C. E. Wilkes, Macromolecules, 1977, 10, 536) was used as an internal reference at 29.9 ppm. The samples were dissolved in 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane-d2 at 120° C. with an 8% wt/v concentration. Each spectrum was acquired with a 900 pulse, and 15 seconds of delay between pulses and CPD to remove ¹H-¹³C coupling. 512 transients were stored in 32K data points using a spectral window of 9000 Hz.

The assignments of the spectra, the evaluation of triad distribution and the composition were made according to Kakugo (“Carbon-13 NMR determination of monomer sequence distribution in ethylene-propylene copolymers prepared with δ-titanium trichloride-diethyl-aluminum chloride” M. Kakugo, Y. Naito, K. Mizunuma and T. Miyatake, Macromolecules, 1982, 15, 1150) using the following equations:

PPP = 100  T ββ/S PPE = 100  T βδ/S EPE = 100  T δδ/S PEP = 100  S ββ/S PEE = 100  S β δ/S EEE = 100  (0.25  S γδ + 0.5  S δδ)/S S = T ββ + T βδ + T δδ + S ββ + S βδ + 0.25  S γδ + 0.5  S δδ

The molar percentage of ethylene content was evaluated using the following equation:

${r_{1}r_{2}} = {1 + \left( {\frac{{EEE} + {PEE}}{PEP} + 1} \right) - {\left( {\frac{P}{E} + 1} \right)\left( {\frac{{EEE} + {PEE}}{PEP} + 1} \right)^{0.5}}}$

The weight percentage of ethylene content was evaluated using the following equation:

$W = \frac{12 \cdot \left\lbrack {\sum_{j = 1}^{n}\left( {R_{j} - \overset{\_}{R}} \right)^{2}} \right\rbrack}{r^{2}{n\left( {n - 1} \right)}\left( {n + 1} \right)}$

where P % mol is the molar percentage of propylene content, while MWE and MWP are the molecular weights of ethylene and propylene, respectively.

The product of reactivity ratio r1r2 was calculated according to Carman (C. J. Carman, R. A. Harrington and C. E. Wilkes, Macromolecules, 1977; 10, 536) as:

The tacticity of Propylene sequences was calculated as mm content from the ratio of the PPP mmT_(ββ) (28.90-29.65 ppm) and the whole T_(ββ) (29.80-28.37 ppm).

Tenacity and Elongation at Break of Non-Woven Fabrics

Test pieces 50 mm large and

E %  mol = 100 * [PEP + PEE + EEE]

about 100 mm long were obtained by cutting the non-woven fabrics, with the longer side in the Machine Direction (MD), corresponding to the direction of movement of the spun-bond conveyor belt, or in the Transverse Direction (TD), perpendicular to the Machine direction. The two opposite 50 mm sides of the sample were fixed to the clamps of an Instron dynamometer (model 1122) and tensioned to break with a crosshead speed of 100 mm/min, the initial distance between the clamps being of 100 mm. The ultimate strength (load at break) and the elongation at break were determined.

Both tenacity and elongation were measured in TD, using the respectively cut test pieces.

Example 1

Preparation of the Ziegler-Natta Solid Catalyst Component

The Ziegler-Natta catalyst was prepared as described for Example 5, lines 48-55, of European Patent No. EP728769B1.

Preparation of the Catalyst System—Precontact

Before introducing the solid catalyst component into the polymerization reactors, the solid catalyst component was contacted with aluminum-triethyl (TEAL) and dicyclopentyldimethoxysilane (D donor) under the conditions reported in Table 1.

Prepolymerization

The catalyst system was then subjected to prepolymerization treatment at 20° C. by maintaining the catalyst system in suspension in liquid propylene for a residence time of 9 minutes before introducing the catalyst system into the polymerization reactor.

Polymerization

The polymerization was carried out in gas-phase polymerization reactor including two interconnected polymerization zones, a riser and a downcomer, as described in European Patent No. EP782587. Hydrogen was used as a molecular weight regulator. The polymer particles exiting from the polymerization step were subjected to a steam treatment to remove the unreacted monomers and dried under a nitrogen flow.

The main precontact, prepolymerization and polymerization conditions and the quantities of monomers and hydrogen fed to the polymerization reactor are reported in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Example 1 PRECONTACT Temperature ° C. 15 Residence Time min 13 TEAL/catalyst wt/wt 8 TEAL/Ext. Donor g/g 4 PREPOLYMERIZATION Temperature ° C. 20 Residence Time min 8 POLYMERIZATION Temperature bar-g 65 Pressure bar-g 24 Residence Time min 111 Split holdup riser wt % 40 Split holdup downcomer wt % 60 C₂ ⁻/C₂ ⁻ + C3⁻ riser mol/mol 0.012 C₂ ⁻/C₂ ⁻ + C3⁻ downcomer mol/mol 0.032 H₂/C₃ ⁻ riser mol/mol 0.026 H₂/C₂ ⁻ downcomer mol/mol 0.186 H₂ = hydrogen; C²⁻ = ethylene, C³⁻ = propylene

The resulting polymer had an MFR of 2.11 g/10 min and was visbroken to MFR 27.8 g/10 min. Properties of the visbroken polymer are reported in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Ex 1 Ethylene content Wt % 7.6 Xylene soluble at 25° C. Wt % 17.5 Intrinsic viscosity xylene dl/g 1.56 solubles MFR g/10 27.8 min Ethylene in the fraction Wt % 4.35 insoluble in xylene at 25° C. Ethylene in the fraction Wt % 24.40 soluble in xylene at 25° C. PEP sequences in the fraction Mol % 3.94 insoluble in xylene at 25° C. PEP sequences in the fraction Mol % 12.25 soluble in xylene at 25° C. PEE sequences in the fraction Mol % 12.89 soluble in xylene at 25° C. EEE sequences in the fraction Mol % 8.98 soluble in xylene at 25° C. r₁r₂ in the fraction insoluble in 4.83 xylene at 25° C. Melting point ° C. 142.4

Production of Non-Woven Fabric Example 2 and Comparative Example 3.

Non-woven fabrics made of concentric skin-core composite filaments were prepared.

In Example 2, the skin was made of the polymer of Example 1 and the core was made from Hostalen GX5052 high density polyethylene, which was commercially available from LyondellBasell and having a density of 0.963 g/cm3. In Example 3, the skin was made with the polymer of Example 1 and the core was made with Moplen HP561R homopolymer, which was commercially available from LyondellBasell. In Comparative Example 4, the skin was made with Hostalen GX5052 high density polyethylene (which was commercially available from LyondellBasell) and the core was made with Moplen HP561R homopolymer (which was commercially available from LyondellBasell).

The polymer materials, were fed to a Reicofil 4 spunbond pilot line, which was run with the following settings and operative conditions:

-   -   core/skin 70/30 (whole diameter: 0.6 mm);     -   line speed (m/min): 214 (17 gsm*)-73 (50 gsm);     -   spinneret: 7377 holes (6827 holes/m);     -   gap pre-diffusor (exit): 23 mm;     -   Secondary air gap—right/left: 14 mm;     -   gap diffusor exit: 75 mm; and     -   distance above the belt right/left: 131 mm.     -   gsm=grams per square meter.

The thermal bonding was carried out with the hot rolls at the temperatures reported in Table 3.

The non-woven fabrics were made of composite filaments with concentric core and skin structure in a weight ratio of 70% of core and 30% of skin.

The mechanical properties of the non-woven fabrics are reported in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Example Ex. 2 Comp Ex. 3 Skin Ex 1 GX5052 Core GX5052 HP561R Thermal bonding [° C.] 123 123 temperature Non-woven properties haptics 14.5 10.0 Note: TD = Transverse Direction

Haptics has been Measured with the Following Method:

Textile specimens were assessed by a panel of 25 evaluators. Textile materials in foils with dimensions of 40 cm×40 cm were used. The specimens were identified with a code (anonymous), which did not reflect the name of the parent material. Each specimen was used for one evaluation for each member of the panel.

Two fabric extremes for the characteristic of interest were chosen and, to such specimen extremes, arbitrary numerical values were assigned (a scale from 0 to 10). Specimens to be evaluated were then assigned values within the established numerical scale, according to the differences felt.

Kendall coefficient of concordance W was used to check if the concordance among the evaluators were acceptable, using the following formula

100 * E%  mol * MWE E%  wt. = E %  mol * MWE + P%  mol * MWP

where R_(j) was the sum of ranks given to each fabric sample; R was the mean value of rank sum; r is the number of evaluators and n is the number of specimens. When the value of W is greater of 0.61, the concordance among the evaluators was considered acceptable.

The features evaluated were the following:

Subjective assessment Characteristic Definition technique Hardness/Softness Resistance of Compress the sample compression with the hands. An average of the evaluations was calculated. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A skin-core fiber comprising: a skin comprising a propylene ethylene copolymer having i) a xylene soluble fraction at 25° C. ranging from 14 wt % to 27 wt %, based upon the total weight of the propylene ethylene copolymer; ii) an intrinsic viscosity of the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 1.0 to 2.4 dl/g; iii) a melt flow rate, MFR, measured according to ISO 1133 at 230° C. with a load of 2.16 kg, ranging from 12 g/10 min to 60.0 g/10 min; iv) an ethylene derived units content ranging from 5.0 wt % to 12.0 wt %, based upon the total weight of the propylene ethylene copolymer; v) the ethylene derived units content of the fraction insoluble in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 2.5 wt % to 6.0 wt %; vi) the ethylene derived units content of the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 15.2. wt % to 30.2 wt %; vii) C¹³ NMR sequences PEP measured on the fraction insoluble in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 3.5 mol % to 5.5 mol %; and viii) C¹³ NMR sequences PEP measured on the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. ranging from 11.0 mol % to 14.2 mol %; and a core comprising a homopolymer or copolymer of ethylene having a density between 0.940 g/cm³ to 0.975 g/cm³.
 2. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric material forming the core-layer ranges from 50 to 80 wt % and the polymeric material forming the outer skin-layer ranges from 20 wt % to 50 wt %.
 3. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein, in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the xylene soluble fraction at 25° C. ranges from 17 wt % to 25 wt %.
 4. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein, in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the intrinsic viscosity of the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. ranges from 1.5 to 2.2 dl/g.
 5. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein, in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the melt flow rate, MFR, measured according to ISO 1133 at 230° C. with a load of 2.16 kg, ranges from 15.0 g/10 min to 50.0 g/10 min.
 6. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein, in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the C¹³ NMR sequences PEP measured on the fraction insoluble in xylene at 25° C. ranges from 3.8 mol % to 5.2 mol %; and the C¹³ NMR sequences PEP measured on the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. ranges from 11.5 mol % to 13.8 mol.
 7. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein, in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the C¹³ NMR sequences PEP measured on the fraction insoluble in xylene at 25° C. ranges 3.9 mol % to 4.8 mol %; and the C¹³ NMR sequences PEP measured on the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. ranges 12.3 mol % to 13.5 mol %.
 8. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein, in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the ethylene derived units content of the fraction insoluble in xylene at 25° C. ranges from 3.2 wt % to 5.2 wt %.
 9. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein, in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the ethylene derived units content of the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. ranges from 17.2 wt % to 24.8 wt %.
 10. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein, in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the C¹³ NMR sequences PEE measured on the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. range from 7.2 mol % to 12.0 mol %.
 11. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein, in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the C¹³ NMR sequences EEE measured on the fraction soluble in xylene at 25° C. are lower than 6.5 mol %.
 12. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein, in the propylene ethylene copolymer, the product of reactivity ratio r1r2 of the fraction insoluble in xylene at 25° C. measured with C¹³ NMR is between 2.4 and 4.6.
 13. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein the core layer comprises a homopolymer or copolymer of ethylene having a density comprised between 0.955 g/cm³⁻ and 0.970 g/cm³.
 14. The skin-core fiber according to claim 1, wherein the core layer comprises a homopolymer or copolymer of ethylene having a density between 0.958 g/cm³ and 0.965 g/cm³.
 15. A non-woven fabric comprising the skin-core fiber according to claim
 1. 